It is necessary to ensure that the various benefits and concessions admissible to the Scheduled Tribe candidates, like reservation in jobs, reservation for admission to various courses, subsidies etc. are availed of by only genuine ST candidates and not by others, especially those who claim to belong to STs on account of similarity of the names of their castes with some of the tribes.  This is taken care of by ensuring utmost care at the stage of issuing the caste certificates and by subjecting all such certificates to scrutiny and validation by an independent expert body.

Revised procedure for issue of caste certificates to Scheduled Tribes 

In accordance with the directions given by the Hon. Supreme Court in Civil Appeal No. 5854/94 (Kum. Madhuri Patil V/s State of Maharashtra and Others), State Government revised in March, 1996 the procedure for issue of caste certificates to ST candidates. The certificates can now be issued only by the Collector or Dy.Collector/Sub Divisional Officer. In order to minimise the inconvenience to the ST candidates, the application forms are accepted by the Tahsildars, who foward the same to Sub-Divisional Officers and in turn receive the certificates from the SDOs and hand over to the applicants.  Appeals against refusal by the competent authorities to issue certificates are to be filed before the Caste Verification Committees.

Verification of caste certificates

As per the guidelines issued by the Hon. Supreme Court, the State Government reconstituted the Scheduled Tribe Caste Scrutiny Committees at Pune, Nashik and Nagpur in July, 1997. Each of these Committees is headed by the Director, Tribal Research and Training Institute, Pune and consists of four other official members, including the concerned Additional Commissioner in charge of Tribal Development. Each Committee is assisted by a Vigilance Cell, consisting of a Dy. SP and six Police Inspectors. In case of doubtful claims, the Cell makes necessary enquiries and after collecting copies of relevant documents submits a report to the Committee. A copy of the report is made available to the applicant who is given an opportunity for personal hearing and to adduce any evidence. The decision given by the Committee is final and can be challenged only through a writ petition in the High Court.

The following types of caste certificates issued to Scheduled Tribe candidates are referred to the Committee for verification :

1. Certificates issued to  students seeking admissions in Engineering and Medical Colleges.
2. Certificates issued to candidates recommended by the MPSC and different Selection Boards appointed by the State Government for  seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes.
3. Certificates issued to Government servants according to the requests or complaints made by the concerned departments/officers.
4. Certificates issued to the employees/officers appointed or selected in the Central  Government or Undertakings of the Central Government on the posts reserved for Scheduled Tribes.
5. Certificates issued to the employees of Zilla Parishads,  Municipal bodies and semi-government bodies.
6. Certificates issued to candidates contesting elections to the local self government bodies and declared elected.

During the years 1997-98 and 1998-99, the three committees scrutinised 4472 and 3645 cases respectively. Around 55% of the certificates scrutinised by the committees are held invalid.  Around 2200 writ petitions filed against the decisions of the committees are pending.